Retired Green Bay publisher Gage dies at 75

Michael Gage, the former publisher of the Green Bay Press-Gazette and president of the Packers Hall of Fame board, has died, his wife said Monday. He was 75.

Gage's wife, Patty Gage, said he died Sunday of heart problems after collapsing Thursday.

Gage retired in 1992, ending his family's dynasty as operators of the paper, according to the newspaper (http://gbpg.net/UyjnzB). Gage's grandfather, Andrew Turnbull, was one of three men who started the paper in 1915 and was its first publisher. Gage's uncle, Daniel Beisel, was its second publisher, and Gage was its third.

In 1980, Gage became vice president of the Green Bay Newspaper Co. and the Press-Gazette's general manager. He helped engineer the sale of the company to Gannett Co., after which he was named publisher.

That year, he also became a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame board of directors. His grandfather, Turnbull, had been the Packers' first president.

At the time of his death, he was also president of the Packers Hall of Fame's board. He was the largest private shareholder of Packers stock, Patty Gage said.

"Mike was a well respected and admired leader in our community," said current Press-Gazette president and publisher Kevin Corrado. "He worked tirelessly on behalf of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the Packers, and our city. He will be greatly missed."